Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-16
Brisf Sketch OF the Life OF Joseph
Bodwell

Though at his death he had reached nearly
70 the age of seventy years. he had the APP
pesrance of being younger. He was born
June 18th, 1918, In that part of the Methuen.
Mass, on which now stands the city of Law
renee. His father Joseph Bodwel, owned
farm at the mouth of the Spigot river. lie
was q worthy man and his wife was Il woman
Of refinement and exemplary character
Joseph X. was thrown on his own resources
At the age of eight years, his father having
lost his property through unavoidable mis-
fortune. Persuaded by his brother-in-law to
commit the boy to his care, in this brother
in-law. Patrick Fleming, of Methuen, his
son found a friend with whom he re-
sided and upon whose farm he labored
until he reached the age of sixteen. The ex-
cellent school of manual labor in which he
passed these formative years. was precisely
the one best fitted to qualify him for the re.
mrkable success which he so triumphantly
achieved---a success as a business man and
citizen of influence and an honored career
which continued TO his death During the
year 1884 this practical education was CON
tnued in his experience as farm laborer
with the wages of six dollars per month. In
1885 he began to acquire the art of shoe
making aud pursued other occupations which
gave promise of larger and different sphere
Of activity. He attended school during the
day and on his return, taking with him the
materials for making shoes spent his even
ings and the early part of his mornings
In their fabrication. There was evidence
Of sterling material in this sturdy
and industrious youth. This mode of life
and labor continued until 1888. He then, at
the age of twenty years, in connection with
his father, purchased farm in West Methu1
en-, and aided in its cultivation until the death
Of his father in ls4s. While thus occupie Il
he took the first steps in that special bushes !
career in which he has since been so promi !
ncntly active and by means of which he has
done so much to develope the natural re 1
sources Of his adopted State. When the
Lawrences of Boston began to utilize the
water power of Merrimac at Lawrence, MI.
Bodwell was employed to haul granite FROM
Pelham, n. H., for the construction of al
dam. This made him acquainted with all the
processes involved in quarrying and working
granite. In 1889, in company with Hon.
Moses Webster. he commenced to work the
granite qusrries of Fox Island, at the mouth
Of Penobscot Bay. Up to that period theI
granite islands, headlands and coast of Maine |
were for the most part practically worthless
Since then, under the hands of Mr.. Bodwell|
and others, endowed with his support and
impelled by his example. they have been con-
verted into scenes of activity and yielded the
material for the construction of many of curl
moot magnificent national. civic and private
edinces.
Mr.. Bodwell commenced operations oui
Fox Island at vinalhaven, with one woke old
oxen over which he welded the goad-stiek. j
and which he shod with his own hands, bur
from this humble beginning sprung results of|
such magnitude that company Of capitalists
was organized to utilize the quarries there
discovered, This corporation. known as the!
Bodwell Granite Company. elected Mr.. Bod \
well 70 IL presidency. The office then in
trusted % him be held to the day of his death
uader his energetic, prudent and sagaciousl
nAnesement il has attained to the position of
~ leading granite corporation in the United
0hsss.
In 1866 Mr.. Bodwell with his family re-
moved 70 Hallowell. He had foreseen that
granite Of lighter color and more delicate in
ssxtars than that which had been 80 extensively
ussd. wosld be required in the future. This
granite he found in the neighborhood Of
Hallovell. 1t vas precisely the kind aud
quality Of material demanded for monuments,